Golf practice ball



Patented Nov. 6 i934 9,7

GGLF PRACTICE BALL Luther 1. Clark, Hewlett, N. Y.

Application July 27, 1932, Serial No. 624,951

7 Claims. (Cl. 27335) My present invention relates to an improvegolf club, as is shown by the dotted lines A-B. ment in golf practice devices and has for its To increase the rapid collapse of the ball under principal feature, the use of a similitude of a impact, the upper portion of the hollow ball is golf ball of great flexibility, which may be anopen or provided with a relatively large air vent chored in a suitable manner, for practice strik- 5, so that the ball at all times tends to rapidly ing with a golf club, upon the ground or other discharge its air content and as rapidly recover suitable foundation. its spherical form, from a blow. The action is The important feature of the present inveninstant and lively. tion is in the structure of the hollow practice The globular portion 1, as in Fig. 2, has an 1 ball, which is, in part, made in the similitude, integrally moulded cylindrical neck portion 2, 65 and approximately the size of a standard golf or" somewhat smaller diameter at its middle than ball, is made of soft rubber, with relatively thin at its ends and has a widened base portion 3, in walls but which has a solid depending, resilient, which may be moulded a metallic threaded plug integral neck piece. 6. The plug 6 has a plurality of ribs 8 on its Further, the ball structure, which is hollow, outer exterior, so that when moulding the ball 76 is provided with a breather aperture of relal the mold-in plug 6 will, thereafter, be held tively large proportions, so that upon striking in Operative position in the base The upper the same with a club, the flexible or elastic ball portion of the neck 2 is so developed that it collapses under impact of the club, although, as merges gradually, as at aa into the ball conit simultaneously flexes, it travels with the club tour with easy curves, and this permits theneck in the direction of the stroke, for a short moveand ball structure to be extremely flexible, when merit thereof. Thus the action is somewhat mounted for play action, under the force of a phantom-like, in play. driving stroke of a club.

A further feature of the present device is in In the views of Figs. 1 and 2, 12 represents the 25 the provision of the flexible or resilient neck gr un h ving a suitable surface 14, and in piec noted above. While the b ll portion f which a hole is dug. Thereafter a tapering conthe device is made of thin rubber, in the form Crete p having a Stud 9 moulded therein, of a hollow sphere, it has a depending neck porwith a head 10 at its lower end and an extendtion of solid rubber. The neck portion is mouldg t d d S end thereon, is buried in the 30 ed integrally ith th ball portion, Th n k hole, some of the soil is replaced and tamped to portion may be so shaped in contour as to p rfirmly anchor the base or ball anchor 11 therein,

mit it to be anchored to the ground, for play, and a somewhat circular depression 13, is left or may be otherwise mounted for play practice. above the ball anchor 11, so that when the ball The foregoing and other capabilities will be 1-2 is screwed to stud end 13 i p j above apprehended as the herein description proceeds the g und, as in at about fleeing height and itis obvious that modifications may be made S thus mounted the p y stands on the in the herein described device, without departg d, and can practice Striking e ball, in a ing from the spirit hereof, or the scope of the natur l manner. After play, th ball may e appended claims. unscrewed leaving the base 11, as a permanent 40 In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view of my buried anchorage, well positioned below the device, as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a sectional gr d line 14, and thus not interfere W grass view of the device, taken on the line 22, Fig, cutting and the like.

1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 In Fi 5 there is Shown an rn e f rm of is a partially sectioned, elevational view of the base or ball anchorage, the same being in the 45 device with an alternate form of anchoring for form Of a Cast 0r Stamped metal Cup 18, the

play; Fig. 4 is a side view of one of the ball up, lik t a having an twa d y taperanchoring staples, and Fig. 5 is a sectional View ins fl e from its 1 to its base, and having an of an alternate form of anchorage. anchoring fla 19 at its IOWEI p A In Fig. 1, there is shown the plan view of the ball att h s u is firmly u t d. y its d 50 structure shown in Fig. 2. In this latter figure 0, t t upper p rt f a 18. its t ad nd the practice ball, as shown in transverse section, 21 extending up d y, to ceiv the ba t is made of moulded rubber, and ha th ball on as described for Fig. 2. This cup, like the base portion 1 made in a globular form. The wall of 11, is also intended to be permanently buried in the ball is made relatively thin, so that it readily the ground to serve as a ball anchorage, as de- 55 collapses and deforms upon being struck by a scribed for Fig. 2.

In Fig. 3, there is shown another form of ground anchorage for the ball 1. In this latter anchorage the cupped ground hole 13 is made, and the base 3 of the neck 2 placed in the bottom of the hole 13, and then two long wire staples 15-15, shown in full in Fig. 4, are driven diagonally into the ground, crosswise, so that their joint opposed loop ends 16 embrace the opposite sides of the neck portion 2, and thus hold the play ball firmly in position for practice. The staples have sharpened ends 1'7 for ease in driving them into the ground.

As thus outlined, it will be noted that I have provided a play or practice ball of light, elastic and lively action, which under the. practice strokes of the player, is phantom like in play,

and which, owing to its lightness and elasticity is not easily injured, and is, therefore resistant to wear. It is easily mounted and dismounted, and is an excellent means for permitting the-player to study the strokes as made and to perfect his drive.

Further, because the ball is anchored to the ground the player stands on the-ground and can practice with more confidence than if standingon an elevated platform.

Having thus described my invention What I claim' is:

1. A golf practice apparatus comprising in combination a-base having in its top surface a recess, aball including a resilient shell and having atop provided with a breather opening of suihcient size to permit substantially unrestrictedpassage of the air upon collapse of the ball, astem integral with said shell and disposed therebelow, said shell being above the level of said surface, and means attaching the lower end of said stem to said base at the bottom of said recess, so that as said shell is struck one side thereof may returnably bend over the top of said stem, the opposite side of said shell being returnably bendable over said surface.

2. A golf practice apparatus comprising in combination a base having in its top surface a recess, a ball including a resilient shell having a top provided with a breather opening of sufiicient size to permit substantially unrestricted passage of the air upon collapse of the ball, a single stem integral with said shell and disposed therebelow, said shell being above the level of said surface, fastening means rigid with said base at the bottom of said recess, and means carried by the lower end of said stem and attaching the latter to the first mentioned means, so that as saidshell isstruck opposite sides thereof may yield practically separately.

3..An apparatus for golf practice comprising in combination with a ground having a flat surface, said surface having therein a recess, a rubber ball disposed above said surface and including a shell having a top provided with a breather opening of suiiicient size to permit substantially unrestricted passage of the air upon collapse of the ball, a single stem integral with said shell and disposed below the base portion thereof, and means attaching the lower end of said stem to said ground in the bottom of said recess, so that as said shell is struck one side thereof may bend over said base portion the opposite side of said shell being bendable over said surface and the top end of said stem being bendable in said recess.

4. A golf practice apparatus comprising in combination a base having therein a recess, a rubber ball disposed above said base, a stem integral with said ball and disposed therebelow, and means attaching the lower end of said stem to said base at the bottom surface of said recess; said means including an internally threaded bushing which is moulded into said lower end, and a fastening element rigid with said base and having an externally threaded shank projecting above said bottom surface for cooperating with the first mentioned threads, whereby said ball with its stem may be threadedly turned into attached position.

5. An apparatus for golf practice comprising in combination a base or ground having in its top surface a recess, a vertically disposed rubber stein, means attaching the lower end of said stem to said base at the bottom of said recess, said stein having its top end at least as high as said surface, a thin shell rising from the outer periphery of said top end and integral therewith, said shell simulating a golf ball and having a top provided with a breather opening of sufficient size to permit substantially unrestricted passage of the air upon collapse of the ball, so that as a golf club strikes said shell the thin wall thereof may returnably collapse, one side of said shell being bendable over said top end and the opposite side of said shell being bendable over said surface.

6. A practice ball comprising a hollow soft rubber ball having an unobstructed interior provided at its top with a breather opening of sufiicient size to permit substantially unrestricted passage of air upon collapse of the ball under influence of a blow, a solid flexible rubber supporting stein integral with the ball and project'- ing from the ball opposite said opening, and means to secure said stem in a substantially vertical position on a base.

'7. A practice ball comprising a hollow soft rul ber ball having an unobstructed interior provided at its top with a breather opening of suflicient size to permit substantially unrestricted passage of air upon collapse of the ball under influence of i a blow, a solid flexible rubber supporting stem integral with the ball and projecting from the ball tion, and means to secure said stem in a substantially vertical position on a base.

LUTHER I. CLARK. 

